Today Roland is celebrating 808 day with the unveiling of a new TR-08 drum machine, SH-01A keyboard,
and SP-404A sampler! Obviously the TR-08 is getting the most attention today! Arriving in September for $350, this is not an analog re-issue, but more akin to the faithful emulation we saw in the Aira line. Embedded below is the big reveal, and there's also a dark Experimental Hip-hop demo jam.

Video Description:

The Roland TR-808 has featured on countless records and tracks — from chart-topping pop songs to underground classics — and is one of the most revered electronic musical instruments of all time. The booming bass drum, sizzling hi-hats, snappy snare, and that unmistakable cowbell, has formed the rhythmic foundation of many genres with a sound that is engrained in today’s music and culture.

In this video, we chat about the latest instrument in the Roland Boutique series - the Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer. We discuss what the numbers "8-0-8" mean to a number of artists; some of whom have a legacy deeply engrained with the TR-808 to a younger generation of producers who look to take the sound of the TR-808 to a bright future.

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯The TR-08 brings the look, sound, and feel of the original 808 — with stunning accuracy — to the Roland Boutique format. From the instantly-recognizable red-orange-yellow-white markings, the shape of the sequencer buttons, switches and knobs are details that have been painstakingly reproduced to match the iconic recreation of sounds. Along with the aesthetic touches, the TR-08 contains new features like 16 sub-steps for fast rolls, independent trigger out track, compression/gain/tune for instruments and a selectable modified “long decay” bass drum for more boom and resonance.

I know it's unpopular to like the Roland Boutique line because it is not analog, but man, for $350, it looks and sounds mostly like an 808... it's still pretty damn dope, imho. That SH-01A is even cooler though! Whether we like it or not, we will probably never get an exact analog Roland-made 808 clone, and if we did, it would be ungodly expensive.

Now, Roland, can we please have all these as iOS apps? Plug Out for iOS please!!

the aria tr-8 seems to be the best value, since one gets both the 808 and 909 plus the ability to mix both at will with wizardry. andno need for magnifying glasses either [now this is just me being a jerk, hehe] - and i believe you can pay to get the 606 & 707 machines as well. if i remember right.

I just don't like the look of the AIRA range. Black with green leds is so 2005 video gamer. But the TR-8 is more flexible.

They got the look right with the TR-09 and TR-08 but blew it by not having seperate outputs which is a must for a drum machine. Even with the USB connection you can only break out 4 sounds and you need a Mac/PC as the connection isn't class compliant.

@Bob: I'm 100% with you on the style of the Airas. I love the sound of the TB-3... but it is my secret shame. I hide it in a tray when not in use, because I don't want to look at that cheesy black and green.